Develop educational programs and organizational relationships that will improve the quality of musculoskeletal patient care.

Objectives

1.1 Work with other organizations representing providers of musculoskeletal patient care to develop systems of patient management that will be physician-controlled and cost-effective, and that will preserve timely access to specialty care. These cooperative efforts may include research, provider education, patient education, advocacy and the development of patient care models and tools.

1.2 Periodically analyze the patient population with musculoskeletal disorders and develop programs and policies that address a changing status of this population while maximizing ethical, cost-effective care.

Be responsive to the educational needs and desires of musculoskeletal professionals by promoting the acquisition of current, relevant knowledge and skills in creative, flexible, affordable, efficient and accessible ways to deliver the highest quality patient care.

Objectives

2.1 Provide a multifaceted array of educational programs for the fellowship, other orthopaedists, other musculoskeletal providers, patients and the public, both nationally and internationally.

2.2 Provide educational content in practice management for orthopaedists, including programs to help them with their practices in the changing socioeconomic environment.

2.3 Promote awareness of and provide education in electronic communications skills, telemedicine and medical informatics.

2.4 Develop substantive content programs that focus on emerging issues and initiatives related to biotechnology, incorporating evidence-based and ethical and cost-effective content as well as available outcomes-related data.

2.5 Provide evaluation tools for orthopaedists, residents and residency programs through an ongoing series of self-examination programs.

2.6 Continue to develop and validate methods to measure the educational effectiveness in both teaching and learning related to Academy programs and publications.

2.7 Evaluate the breadth and depth of Academy relationships with orthopaedic industry, specialty societies and health care insurers in educational activities to ensure that these relationships promote ethical, cost-effective care.

Influence the direction of health care delivery and effectively communicate this direction to orthopaedists and other health care providers, the public and policy makers.

Objectives

3.1 Advocate policies and programs that will maintain and improve the quality of musculoskeletal care.

3.2 Promote the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior.

3.3 Continuously determine which health policy and practice issues are important to orthopaedists and what positions the Academy should take in addressing these issues, taking into account local and regional needs.

3.4 Advocate policies and programs that will preserve access to the highest quality, cost-effective musculoskeletal care for all populations.

3.5 Analyze and regularly communicate to the fellowship developing trends and activities in private and public sector health care delivery so that they may make changes appropriate to local and regional needs.

3.6 Collect and analyze data on the musculoskeletal work force for decision makers, and become a resource on these issues.

3.7 Advocate fair payment for services provided.

3.8 Monitor, analyze and regularly communicate liability issues in changing health care delivery systems, and report to orthopaedists.

3.9 With other orthopaedic organizations, encourage orthopaedists to consider careers in health policy.

Promote basic and clinical research of the musculoskeletal system, and communicate all aspects of this research.

Objectives

4.1 Develop and implement programs that promote outcomes and effectiveness research.

4.2 Develop and implement a national database on patients with musculoskeletal problems that can be used to promote outcomes and cost-effectiveness research on the management of such disorders.

4.3 Collect and analyze data so as to become an informational resource on the incidence, impact, prevalence and cost-effectiveness of various management approaches to musculoskeletal care.

4.4 Promote public and private funding for basic and clinical musculoskeletal research, and support the activities of the OREF in these areas.

4.5 Develop clinical algorithms and practice parameters, and analyze the effectiveness and accuracy of musculoskeletal algorithms, guidelines, and parameters developed by others.

4.6 Monitor and address emerging issues in biotechnology related to research, regulation and patent issues.

4.7 With other orthopaedic organizations, encourage orthopaedists to pursue careers in basic and clinical research.

Be a fiscally-responsible and flexible organization which responds rapidly to the needs of its members.

Objectives

5.1 Develop a flexible organizational culture and staff that ensure a rapid response to meet the changing needs of the members.

5.2 Assure that the Academy continues to maintain an organizational structure that is fiscally responsible and accountable.

5.3 Implement and use a variety of communication vehicles that will promote regular and effective interaction with members.

5.4 Develop collaborative relationships with orthopaedic state, regional and specialty societies that facilitate joint development of strategies and programs of mutual benefit.

5.5 Provide a comprehensive array of methods to regularly and effectively communicate with members, and be responsive to the needs and concerns of the members, the public, policy-makers and other professionals.

5.6 Provide avenues for leadership development to assure that a continuing pool of qualified leaders is available.

5.7 Provide a structure and process that are directed toward the attraction and retention of members and applicants.

5.8 Develop programs and projects that encourage diversity in the Academy membership so as to meet the needs of all patients.

5.9 Explore the development of shared interest groups within the structure of the Academy, including international members, allied health categories and other appropriate groups.